Academic Upgrading

Program Highlights

SAIT academic upgrading courses prepare students for admission into SAIT career programs. These courses are Alberta high school equivalency courses. They may be accepted for admission purposes by other Alberta post-secondary educational institutions. You may be required to take placement tests for selected courses. (Also available part-time through Continuing Education.)

Program Details

Program description

SAIT academic upgrading courses prepare students for admission to SAIT career programs. For SAIT program Admission requirements, refer to the appropriate sections of the SAIT Academic Calendar. SAIT academic upgrading courses are Alberta high school equivalency courses, not Alberta Education courses. They may be accepted for admission purposes by other Alberta post-secondary educational institutions. Check the current Alberta Transfer Guide published by Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer for a listing of all formalized transfer agreements among Alberta post-secondary institutions.

SAIT academic upgrading courses provide students with a flexible approach for their transition to post-secondary studies. Courses can be taken part-time or full-time in the day, evening or online. Students become accustomed to the SAIT environment and culture and develop successful strategies for learning.

Government grant funding may be available for eligible students. For more information on funding, please check the following website: www.sait.ca/sip. Student loans are not available for upgrading courses.

It is recommended that all students have access to a personal computer.

Your career

Students complete upgrading courses in order to meet the admission requirements for programs at SAIT and most other post-secondary education institutions in Alberta.

Student success

Attendance and punctuality are directly related to academic success. Students who attend all of their classes do better on assignments and tests. Students are encouraged to access free SAIT student services such as tutoring, learning strategy workshops, appointments with a learning strategist, and student counselling services.

Placement testing

Transcripts will be reviewed by the academic upgrading team to determine the appropriate level of upgrading courses.

Placement tests may be recommended or required to determine the proper level of placement in academic upgrading. You must book your test at least 24 hours in advance — review the booking instructions and email upgrading@sait.caif you have any questions. Study guides are available for the following placement tests:

* A limited number of upgrading courses are offered in a blended format. A blended course runs 14 weeks and involves online participation as well as an on-campus class on Saturdays'. Please note that all Saturday scheduled classes are blended courses. Please review specific course schedules. Each course has a specific start and end date, as well as a course outline that states requirements and deadlines for coursework. Students are expected to work through course content and assessments outside the weekly on-campus class in order to stay on track with the course schedule. Exams and labs (if applicable) will be completed during the class time and, as such, attendance and regular "check-ins" to the course website (in Brightspace/D2L) are essential to succeed in this course format. For more information about this delivery format, please contact as.coned.info@sait.ca.

Progression

Students must pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. Admission to SAIT and other post-secondary programs can be highly competitive. Grades higher than a minimal pass improve opportunities for admission to post-secondary programs. For information about course sequencing and prerequisites, go to Academic Upgrading.

Costs

Domestic tuition and fees*

Number of courses

Tuition fees

SAIT fees

SAITSA fees

2018/19 total

1

$480

$80

$48

$608

2

$960

$80

$96

$1136

3

$1441

$80

$144

$2045*

International tuition and fees*

Number of courses

Tuition fees

SAIT fees

SAITSA fees

2018/19 total

1

$1766

$80

$48

$1894

2

$3532

$80

$96

$3708

3

$5297

$80

$144

$5901*

*Including dental and health plans and Upass ($380)

SAIT fees

Campus athletic and recreation fee: $80 per semesterUniversal Transit Pass (UPass): If you are taking two courses during the semester, you may be eligible to purchase the UPass. If you are taking three courses, the $140 is included in your SAIT fees.

Student Association (SAITSA) fees

Health plan†: $110**Dental plan†: $125**Student Association: Please see the chart above as charges are based on the number of courses you are taking.† included in your fees if you are taking three or more courses

Contact Academic Upgrading

Inspiring Stories

Mike's academic journey started at SAIT in 1985. At that time, he didn't see the value of education and decided to go into the workforce instead.

After an injury that prevented him from being able to work in his field, Mike decided to return to SAIT to pursue the Civil Engineering Technology program.

Mike has won two academic upgrading awards for service and academic achievement. He is also the vice president of SAIT's 2017 Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR).

A scholarship recipient and graduate from the Petroleum Engineering Technology program, Miles credits the Academic Upgrading program for giving him a competitive edge, helping him establish a strong academic foundation that contributed to his academic success.

After graduation, Miles plans to transfer to Universtiy of Wyoming for a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

Prior to starting at SAIT, Samantha didn't think she would ever go back to school, and if she did, she thought she would fail.

She proved herself wrong after completing her academic upgrading courses in the 90th percentile and credits her instructors for contributing to her success.

Samantha graduated from the Dental Assisting program and is now working in her field.

Mike Van Dyk

Civil Engineering Technology | 2016

"Academic upgrading gave me a great head start to relearn a few necessary skills. Thanks to SAIT I am on the right track to a rewarding career."

Miles O'Keefe

Petroleum Engineering Technology | 2017

"As a mature student, the choice to come back to school would have been difficult without upgrading my high school classes."

Samantha Dixon

Dental Assisting | 2016

"After finishing Academic Upgrading ... I took Dental Assisting and found a job after graduation. Now, I plan to continue on to university to study nursing."

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